System and method for managing display power consumption

ABSTRACT

A device includes a display screen that may be directed to function in one of multiple modes. The device may be configured to direct the display to shift between modes. In one mode, first information is displayed in an available display area including a first portion of a display screen in a display screen mode having a set of portions of the display screen. The set of portions may include the first portion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input, and a second portion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-off state. In another mode, the entire screen may function in a powered-on state. One of the particular modes may be selected by swiping on object displayed by the screen to select a particular mode while the display is in a sleep mode.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/257,888, filed Apr. 21, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/058,731, filed Oct. 21, 2013, which iscontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/905,064, filed May 29,2013, which claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 61/822,267, filed 10 May 2013, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to power management, and, morespecifically, to managing power consumption in display systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

The revolution in mobile computing devices, also described herein asmultifunction devices, has progressed at a far greater pace than theprogress of the batteries that power mobile devices. From smart phonesto tablets to laptops, users face increasing frustration as batteriesdrain under the ceaseless consumption produced by modern displaydevices.

As the multifunction devices improve and provide an increasinglysophisticated array of functions to the user, demand for power increaseson two fronts. First, the amount of time that devices are in useincreases. Second, improved hardware such as brighter display screensand faster processors drains more battery power for each minute that themultifunction device remains in use.

Most, if not all multifunction devices (e.g., smart phones) have aconstant screen size and a display area with two options only; this is,the devices are either in a full display state (e.g., the entire displayscreen is powered on) or in a no display state where the entire displayscreen is powered-off.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

Systems and methods for managing display power consumption aredisclosed. In some embodiments, screen space configuration and user orautomated management of the display may cause portions of the display aswell as elements displayed by the display to be configured to anyuser-selected size or position. The battery-saving benefit resultingfrom this new empowerment may be an extremely valuable function, in someembodiments.

In some embodiments first information is displayed in an availabledisplay area including a first portion of a display screen in aconfiguration having a set of portions. The set of portions includes thefirst portion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-onstate to perform display functions and receive user input, and a secondportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-offstate. Responsive to a user indication in the first portion, the secondportion is added to the available display area by transitioning thesecond portion to the powered-on state to perform display functions andreceive user input. Second information is displayed in the secondportion.

According to some embodiments, an entire device display screen mayfunction in a full configuration mode where the entire available displayscreen is in a power-on state. For example, a powered-on state may causethe affected part of the display to perform display functions andreceive user input, although less, other or different functionality maybe associated with the powered-on state. Instructions may be receiveddirecting the display to transition from the full configuration mode toa proportional configuration mode. The proportional configuration modemay configure a portion of the display screen in the powered-on stateand another portion of the display in a powered-off state (in an examplepowered-off state, the affected part of the display may be configured tonot perform display functions and to not receive user input). Responsiveto receiving the instructions, the underlying display technology (e.g.,OLED/AMOLED or LCD, etc.) may be directed to continue to power theportion of the display and power-off the other portion of the display.

In another embodiment, a device may be set to a user interface lockstate by any predefined manner where the state prevents the device fromperforming a predefined set of actions. The device may be configured todisplay an unlock image while in the lock state and detect contact witha touch sensitive display. The device may be configured to determinewhether the contact corresponds to an unlock gesture using the unlockimage and further configured to determine whether the gesture indicatesa proportional configuration mode or a full configuration mode.Responsive to the determination(s) the display may transition to thedetermined configuration mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a portable multifunction device inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationin an available display area comprising a first portion of a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationin an available display area comprising a first portion of a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationin an available display area comprising a first portion of a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationin an available display area comprising a first portion of a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying firstinformation in an available display area comprising a first portion of adisplay screen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 12 depicts a portable multifunction displaying first information inan available display area comprising a first portion of a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates a portable multifunction responsive to a userindication in the in the first portion, adding the second portion to theavailable display area by transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input,and displaying second information in the second portion in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 14 depicts a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 depicts a portable multifunction displaying first information inan available display area comprising a first portion of a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 17 illustrates a portable multifunction responsive to a userindication in the in the first portion, adding the second portion to theavailable display area by transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input,and displaying second information in the second portion in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 18 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 19 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 19A illustrates a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 20 depicts a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 21 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 22 depicts a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 23 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 24 depicts a portable multifunction displaying with a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 25 illustrates a display power management module for managingdisplay power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 26 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 28 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 29 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 33 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forunlocking a display and transitioning the display into either a fullconfiguration mode or a proportional configuration mode.

FIG. 34 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 35 illustrates a portion of a portable multifunction with a displayscreen in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 36 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 37 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 38 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 39 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method fortransitioning a display from a full configuration mode to a proportionalconfiguration mode.

FIG. 40 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 41 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 42 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 43 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 44 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 45 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 46 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 47 illustrates an example computer system configured to implementaspects of the system and method for managing display power consumption.

This specification includes references to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment.” The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “inan embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner consistent with this disclosure.

“Comprising.” This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims,this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider aclaim that recites: “An apparatus comprising one or more processor units. . . . ” Such a claim does not foreclose the apparatus from includingadditional components (e.g., a network interface unit, graphicscircuitry, etc.).

“Configured To.” Various units, circuits, or other components may bedescribed or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In suchcontexts, “configured to” is used to connote structure by indicatingthat the units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry)that performs those task or tasks during operation. As such, theunit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to perform the taskeven when the specified unit/circuit/component is not currentlyoperational (e.g., is not on). The units/circuits/components used withthe “configured to” language include hardware—for example, circuits,memory storing program instructions executable to implement theoperation, etc. Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is “configuredto” perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, for that unit/circuit/component.Additionally, “configured to” can include generic structure (e.g.,generic circuitry) that is manipulated by software and/or firmware(e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processor executing software) tooperate in manner that is capable of performing the task(s) at issue.“Configure to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process (e.g.,a semiconductor fabrication facility) to fabricate devices (e.g.,integrated circuits) that are adapted to implement or perform one ormore tasks.

“First,” “Second,” etc. As used herein, these terms are used as labelsfor nouns that they precede, and do not imply any type of ordering(e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.). For example, a buffer circuitmay be described herein as performing write operations for “first” and“second” values. The terms “first” and “second” do not necessarily implythat the first value must be written before the second value.

“Based On.” As used herein, this term is used to describe one or morefactors that affect a determination. This term does not forecloseadditional factors that may affect a determination. That is, adetermination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least inpart, on those factors. Consider the phrase “determine A based on B.”While in this case, B is a factor that affects the determination of A,such a phrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also beingbased on C. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

Various embodiments of a system and method for managing display powerconsumption are disclosed. According to some embodiments, an entiredevice display screen may function in a full configuration mode wherethe entire available display screen is in a power-on state. For example,a powered-on state may cause the affected part of the display to performdisplay functions and receive user input, although less, other ordifferent functionality may be associated with the powered-on state.Instructions may be received directing the display to transition fromthe full configuration mode to a proportional configuration mode. Theproportional configuration mode may configure a portion of the displayscreen in the powered-on state and another portion of the display in apowered-off state (in an example powered-off state, the affected part ofthe display may be configured to not perform display functions and tonot receive user input). Responsive to receiving the instructions, theunderlying display technology (e.g., pixels for OLED/AMOLEDtechnologies) may be directed to continue to power the portion of thedisplay and power-off the other portion of the display.

In some embodiments, the portion of the screen (e.g., some or all of thedisplay) that is powered-off may be black or near-black, unresponsive tothe touch, or display other characteristics of a display that is notpowered. For example, the portion of the display that is powered-offcannot be activated by an errant finger and may be used as a handle forgripping the device. Such configuration may be useful for tasks such astaking pictures with the device comprising the display. The portion ofthe display that is powered-off may be configurable by or for the userand the rest of the display may continue to provide all or almost all ofthe full functionality, as described herein.

The screen may be the constant total surface area of the multifunctiondevice on which graphics or text may be electronically provided (or“displayed”), in some embodiments. A display may be configured todisplay (e.g., illuminate one or more pixels) one or more colors (e.g.,other than a black, or other color screen that is the color of thedisplay when powered off) when powered-on, for example. The area of thedisplay that is powered-on may range from 0% (e.g., all black/off) to100% (e.g., a full display) and anywhere in-between. In someembodiments, the display may be configured to display in grayscale.

0% to 100% of the display or screen may be configured as powered-on, inembodiments. Whatever portion is not configured as powered-on may beconfigured as powered-off. In embodiments, the portion that isconfigured as powered-off may be using little to no power from thebattery. In embodiments, multiple different portions of the screen maybe configured as powered-on while the rest of the screen remainspowered-off. For example, the icons representing applications on a smartphone user interface may be powered-on while the space in-between theicons may be powered-off, like islands of powered-on color in a sea ofpowered-off display area. The display portion may be equal to the totalsurface area of the sum of the individual powered-on display areasdivided by the total screen size.

The portion of powered-on display may be user-configurable, via settingsor manipulation of the user-interface, such as described herein, forexample. In another example, the portion of powered-on display may beotherwise controlled, by the device operating system or by anapplication. Embodiments, as described herein, may reduce the amount ofscreen that is powered-on (e.g., from 20-plus applications to half thator less). In some embodiment, such a configuration may reduce the use ofbattery power.

In some embodiments, power efficiency may be improved by practicing themethods and configurations described herein, providing for extendedbattery life for example. A device comprising a display as describedherein may provide a user with the ability to control the size of thedisplay such that individual pixels below the powered-off or inactive(e.g., black/dead/unpowered) portion of the display screen are allturned off (e.g., in smart phones using OLED/AMOLED technologies) inembodiments. Some tests have shown that for some devices, something like67% of the total power drain of a battery may be attributable to thedisplay. In embodiments, the power drain reduction may be proportionalto the size of the powered-off portion

In another embodiment, a device may be set to a user interface lockstate by any predefined manner where the state prevents the device fromperforming a predefined set of actions. The device may be configured todisplay an unlock image while in the lock state and detect contact witha touch sensitive display. The device may be configured to determinewhether the contact corresponds to an unlock gesture using the unlockimage and further configured to determine whether the gesture indicatesa proportional configuration mode or a full configuration mode.Responsive to the determination(s) the display may transition to thedetermined configuration mode.

In some embodiments first information is displayed in an availabledisplay area including a first portion of a display screen in aconfiguration having a plurality of portions. In some embodiments, thedisplay screen includes the first portion of the display screen, whichis configured in a powered-on state to perform display functions andreceive user input, and a second portion of the display screen, which isconfigured in a powered-off state. Responsive to a user indication inthe in the first portion, the second portion is added to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input. Second informationis displayed in the second portion.

The process may be reversible in some embodiments, and a portion of thedisplay screen may be removed from the powered-on state to the poweredoff state in response to user input. Likewise, the actions describedherein as being performed in response to user input may, in someembodiments, be performed in response to system events such as thepassage of an amount of time or a signal from an application or systemmodule, or other system events, such as a power-down or sleep signal.

Some embodiments include a redesign of the current user interface ofsmart phones and hand-held terminals, variously referred to herein asmultifunction devices, giving the user the full freedom to touch changetheir screen and divide it into an active (working) portion and anon-active (non-working, dead) portion depending on their needs andapplication. Some embodiments achieve numerous valuable benefits such asextending existing battery usage time as a result of the unusedelectricity saved by the dead portion of the screen, and at the sametime using the dead portion of the screen as a grip surface to securelyand conveniently use applications such as the camera (similar to theHandlePa™), etc.

Some embodiments present a new simple yet revolutionary user interface(UI) based on a concept and method which will elevate the user's freedomand flexibility and thus change the way smart phone and hand-heldterminal users interact with their screen.

In some embodiments, the second information is generated bymathematically upscaling the first information. The second informationincludes a portion of the first information upscaled for display in boththe second portion and the first portion. In some embodiments, thirdinformation in the first portion. The third information comprises aportion of the first information upscaled for display in both the secondportion and the first portion. In some embodiments, a graphical contentdata structure including content for display in the available displayarea is received, and elements of the graphical content data structureare selected for display in the available display area based at least inpart on whether the second portion is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, a graphical content data structure includingcontent for display in the available display area is received, andelements of the graphical content data structure are scaled for displayin the available display area based at least in part on a dimension ofthe available display area. In some embodiments, a graphical contentdata structure including content for display in the available displayarea is received, and elements of the graphical content data structureare scaled for display in the available display area based at least inpart on whether the second portion is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, a graphical content data structure includingcontent for display in the available display area is received, and aposition relative to a background element of a foreground contentelement of the graphical content data structure is adjusted for displayin the available display area based at least in part on whether thesecond portion is in a powered-on state. In some embodiments, agraphical content data structure including content for display in theavailable display area is received, and elements of the graphicalcontent data structure are selected for display in the available displayarea based at least in part on a dimension of the available displayarea.

Some embodiments may include a means for managing display powerconsumption. For example, a screen power management module may displayfirst information in an available display area comprising a firstportion of a display screen in a configuration having a plurality ofportions, responsive to a user indication in the in the first portion,add the second portion to the available display area by transitioningthe second portion to the powered-on state to perform display functionsand receive user input, and display second information in the secondportion, as described herein. The screen power management module may insome embodiments be implemented by a non-transitory, computer-readablestorage medium and one or more processors (e.g., CPUs and/or GPUs) of acomputing apparatus. The computer-readable storage medium may storeprogram instructions executable by the one or more processors to causethe computing apparatus to display first information in an availabledisplay area comprising a first portion of a display screen in aconfiguration having a plurality of portions, responsive to a userindication in the in the first portion, add the second portion to theavailable display area by transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input,and display second information in the second portion, as describedherein. Other embodiments of a screen power management module may be atleast partially implemented by hardware circuitry and/or firmwarestored, for example, in a non-volatile memory.

Multifunction Device

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed asecond contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a firstcontact, without departing from the intended scope. The first contactand the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the samecontact.

The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. As used in the description and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willalso be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to andencompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” dependingon the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [astated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event],” depending on the context.

Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, andassociated processes for using such devices are described. In someembodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as amobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions. Other portable electronic devices, such aslaptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touchscreen displays and/or touch pads), may also be used. It should also beunderstood that, in some embodiments, the device is not a portablecommunications device, but is a desktop computer with a touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., a touch screen display and/or a touch pad). In someembodiments, the device is a gaming computer with orientation sensors(e.g., orientation sensors in a gaming controller).

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device may include one or moreother physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, amouse and/or a joystick.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one ormore of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device may use atleast one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device maybe adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or withina respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture(such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support thevariety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive andtransparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices. FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating portable multifunction device 100 withtouch-sensitive displays 112 in accordance with some embodiments.Touch-sensitive display 112 is sometimes called a “touch screen” forconvenience, and may also be known as or called a touch-sensitivedisplay system. Device 100 may include memory 102 (which may include oneor more computer readable storage mediums), memory controller 122, oneor more processing units (CPU's) 120, peripherals interface 118, RFcircuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 113,input/output (I/O) subsystem 106, other input or control devices 116,and external port 124. Device 100 may include one or more opticalsensors 164. These components may communicate over one or morecommunication buses or signal lines 103.

It should be appreciated that device 100 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 100 may have more orfewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or mayhave a different configuration or arrangement of the components. Thevarious components shown in FIG. 1 may be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software, including one ormore signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 102 may include high-speed random access memory and may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memorydevices. Access to memory 102 by other components of device 100, such asCPU 120 and the peripherals interface 118, may be controlled by memorycontroller 122.

Peripherals interface 118 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or moreprocessors 120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 102 to perform various functions fordevice 100 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 118, CPU 120, and memorycontroller 122 may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip 104. Insome other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 may include well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 108 may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, alsoreferred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wirelessnetwork, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local areanetwork (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and otherdevices by wireless communication.

The wireless communication may use any of a variety of communicationsstandards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited toGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA),high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), wideband code division multipleaccess (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internetmessage access protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)),instant messaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol(XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and PresenceLeveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service(IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitablecommunication protocol, including communication protocols not yetdeveloped as of the filing date of this document.

Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 113 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 100. Audio circuitry 110 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 118, converts the audio data to anelectrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 111.Speaker 111 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves.Audio circuitry 110 also receives electrical signals converted bymicrophone 113 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 118 for processing. Audio data may be retrievedfrom and/or transmitted to memory 102 and/or RF circuitry 108 byperipherals interface 118. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 110 alsoincludes a headset jack (e.g., 212, FIG. 2). The headset jack providesan interface between audio circuitry 110 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on device 100, suchas touch screen 112 and other input control devices 116, to peripheralsinterface 118. I/O subsystem 106 may include display controller 156 andone or more input controllers 160 for other input or control devices.The one or more input controllers 160 receive/send electrical signalsfrom/to other input or control devices 116. The other input controldevices 116 may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rockerbuttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and soforth. In some alternate embodiments, input controller(s) 160 may becoupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port,USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons(e.g., 208, FIG. 2) may include an up/down button for volume control ofspeaker 111 and/or microphone 113. The one or more buttons may include apush button (e.g., 206, FIG. 2).

Touch-sensitive display 112 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 156 receivesand/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 112. Touch screen112 displays visual output to the user. The visual output may includegraphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectivelytermed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visualoutput may correspond to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensorsthat accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact.Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 (along with any associatedmodules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detect contact (andany movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen 112 andconverts the detected contact into interaction with user-interfaceobjects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) thatare displayed on touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, a pointof contact between touch screen 112 and the user corresponds to a fingerof the user.

Touch screen 112 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD(light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emittingdiode) technology, although other display technologies may be used inother embodiments. Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 maydetect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of avariety of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed,including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, andsurface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensorarrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contactwith touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutualcapacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in theiPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

The user may make contact with touch screen 112 using any suitableobject or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth. In someembodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarily withfinger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise thanstylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on thetouch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the roughfinger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command forperforming the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 100 mayinclude a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particularfunctions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive areaof the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visualoutput. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separatefrom touch screen 112 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surfaceformed by the touch screen.

Device 100 also includes power system 162 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 162 may include a power management system, oneor more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 100 may also include one or more optical sensors 164. FIG. 1shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 159 in I/Osubsystem 106. Optical sensor 164 may include charge-coupled device(CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)phototransistors. Optical sensor 164 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 143(also called a camera module) optical sensor 164 may capture stillimages or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located onthe back of device 100, opposite touch screen display 112 on the frontof the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as aviewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of thedevice so that the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencingwhile the user views the other video conference participants on thetouch screen display.

Device 100 may also include one or more proximity sensors 166. FIG. 1shows proximity sensor 166 coupled to peripherals interface 118.Alternately, proximity sensor 166 may be coupled to input controller 160in I/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turnsoff and disables touch screen 112 when the multifunction device isplaced near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 100 includes one or more orientation sensors 168. In someembodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one or moreaccelerometers (e.g., one or more linear accelerometers and/or one ormore rotational accelerometers). In some embodiments, the one or moreorientation sensors include one or more gyroscopes. In some embodiments,the one or more orientation sensors include one or more magnetometers.In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one ormore of global positioning system (GPS), Global Navigation SatelliteSystem (GLONASS), and/or other global navigation system receivers. TheGPS, GLONASS, and/or other global navigation system receivers may beused for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation(e.g., portrait or landscape) of device 100. In some embodiments, theone or more orientation sensors include any combination oforientation/rotation sensors. FIG. 1 shows the one or more orientationsensors 168 coupled to peripherals interface 118. Alternately, the oneor more orientation sensors 168 may be coupled to an input controller160 in I/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, information is displayedon the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view basedon an analysis of data received from the one or more orientationsensors.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102include operating system 126, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 128, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130,graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, text input module (or setof instructions) 134, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions) 135, screen power management module 158 and applications(or sets of instructions) 136. Device/global internal state 157 includesone or more of: active application state, indicating which applications,if any, are currently active; display state, indicating whatapplications, views or other information occupy various regions of touchscreen display 112; sensor state, including information obtained fromthe device's various sensors and input control devices 116; stateinformation that indicates which processes control output of sharedaudio or visual resource of a vehicle; ownership transition conditionsof the shared audio or visual resource; and location informationconcerning the device's location and/or attitude.

Operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or anembedded operating system such as VxWorks or RTXC) includes varioussoftware components and/or drivers for controlling and managing generalsystem tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

Communication module 128 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 124 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 108 and/orexternal port 124. External port 124 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB),FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices orindirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.).

Contact/motion module 130 may detect contact with touch screen 112 (inconjunction with display controller 156) and other touch sensitivedevices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motionmodule 130 includes various software components for performing variousoperations related to detection of contact, such as determining ifcontact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determiningif there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-draggingevents), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting afinger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module 130receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determiningmovement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series ofcontact data, may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity(magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitudeand/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations may beapplied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiplesimultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). Insome embodiments, contact/motion module 130 and display controller 156detect contact on a touchpad.

Contact/motion module 130 may detect a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns. Thus, a gesture may be detected by detecting a particularcontact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includesdetecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (liftoff) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) asthe finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As anotherexample, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surfaceincludes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or morefinger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting afinger-up (lift off) event.

Graphics module 132 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 112 or other display,including components for changing the intensity of graphics that aredisplayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes any object thatcan be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, webpages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys),digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 132 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code.Graphics module 132 receives, from applications etc., one or more codesspecifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinatedata and other graphic property data, and then generates screen imagedata to output to display controller 156.

Text input module 134, which may be a component of graphics module 132,provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g.,contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, browser 147, and any other applicationthat needs text input).

GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138 foruse in location-based dialing, to camera 143 as picture/video metadata,and to applications that provide location-based services such as weatherwidgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Applications 136 may include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact        list);    -   telephone module 138;    -   video conferencing module 139;    -   e-mail client module 140;    -   instant messaging (IM) module 141;    -   workout support module 142;    -   camera module 143 for still and/or video images;    -   image management module 144;    -   browser module 147;    -   calendar module 148;    -   widget modules 149, which may include one or more of: weather        widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3,        alarm clock widget 149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and other        widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets        149-6;    -   widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;    -   search module 151;    -   video and music player module 152, which may be made up of a        video module and a music module;    -   notes module 153;    -   map module 154; and/or    -   online video module 155.

Examples of other applications 136 that may be stored in memory 102include other word processing applications, other image editingapplications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, contactsmodule 137 may be used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g.,stored in application internal state 192 of contacts module 137 inmemory 102), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deletingname(s) from the address book; associating telephone number(s), e-mailaddress(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name;associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names;providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/orfacilitate communications by telephone 138, video conference 139, e-mail140, or IM 141; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, telephone module138 may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to atelephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book137, modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respectivetelephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up whenthe conversation is completed. As noted above, the wirelesscommunication may use any of a variety of communications standards,protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, andcommunication module 128, screen power management module 158 controlsportions of a screen active for display use as described herein, bycontrolling or causing the graphics module 132 to display firstinformation in an available display area comprising a first portion of adisplay screen in a configuration having a plurality of portions,responsive to a user indication in the in the first portion, add thesecond portion to the available display area by transitioning the secondportion to the powered-on state to perform display functions and receiveuser input, and display second information in the second portion, asdescribed herein

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor164, screen power management module 158, contact module 130, graphicsmodule 132, text input module 134, contact list 137, and telephonemodule 138, videoconferencing module 139 includes executableinstructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conferencebetween a user and one or more other participants in accordance withuser instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, e-mail client module 140 includes executable instructions tocreate, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to userinstructions. In conjunction with image management module 144, e-mailclient module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mails withstill or video images taken with camera module 143.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the instant messaging module 141 includes executableinstructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to aninstant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit arespective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service(SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-basedinstant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-basedinstant messages), to receive instant messages and to view receivedinstant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or receivedinstant messages may include graphics, photos, audio files, video filesand/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an EnhancedMessaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers toboth telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) andInternet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, orIMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, map module 154, and music player module 146,workout support module 142 includes executable instructions to createworkouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals);communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workoutsensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select andplay music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, opticalsensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 159, contact module 130,graphics module 132, and image management module 144, camera module 143includes executable instructions to capture still images or video(including a video stream) and store them into memory 102, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 102.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and cameramodule 143, image management module 144 includes executable instructionsto arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete,present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/orvideo images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, browser module 147 includes executable instructions tobrowse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, includingsearching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portionsthereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, calendarmodule 148 includes executable instructions to create, display, modify,and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendarentries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, widget modules 149 aremini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g.,weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 1493, alarmclock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or created by the user(e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (CascadingStyle Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file(e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150 may beused by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portionof a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134,search module 151 includes executable instructions to search for text,music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 102 that matchone or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified searchterms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, video and music playermodule 152 includes executable instructions that allow the user todownload and play back recorded music and other sound files stored inone or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executableinstructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., ontouch screen 112 or on an external, connected display via external port124). In some embodiments, device 100 may include the functionality ofan MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, notes module153 includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to dolists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, map module 154 maybe used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associatedwith maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and other points ofinterest at or near a particular location; and other location-baseddata) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140,and browser module 147, online video module 155 includes instructionsthat allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streamingand/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on anexternal, connected display via external port 124), send an e-mail witha link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videosin one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instantmessaging module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, is used tosend a link to a particular online video.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 102 maystore a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, memory 102 may store additional modules and data structuresnot described above.

In some embodiments, device 100 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device100, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons,dials, and the like) on device 100 may be reduced.

The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user,navigates device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that may be displayed on device 100. In such embodiments, thetouchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some otherembodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or otherphysical input control device instead of a touchpad.

While a portable or mobile computing device is shown as one embodimentof a multifunction device, one of skill in the art will readily realizein light of having read the current disclosure that a desktop computeror other computing device may also perform many of the functionsdescribed herein without departing from the scope and intent of thepresent disclosure. Likewise, while touch screen devices are shown asone embodiment of a multifunction device, one of skill in the art willreadily realize in light of having read the current disclosure that adesktop computer or other computing device without a touch screen mayalso perform many of the functions described herein without departingfrom the scope and intent of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100 in accordancewith some embodiments. The touch screen may display one or more graphicswithin user interface (UI) 200. In this embodiment, as well as othersdescribed below, a user may select one or more of the graphics by makinga gesture on the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers 202(not drawn to scale in the figure) or one or more styluses 203 (notdrawn to scale in the figure).

Device 100 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home”or menu button 204. As described previously, menu button 204 may be usedto navigate to any application 136 in a set of applications that may beexecuted on device 100. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menubutton is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen112.

In one embodiment, device 100 includes touch screen 112, menu button204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 208, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 210, head set jack 212, and docking/charging externalport 124. Push button 206 may be used to turn the power on/off on thedevice by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressedstate for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressingthe button and releasing the button before the predefined time intervalhas elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process.

In an alternative embodiment, device 100 also may accept verbal inputfor activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone 113.

User Interface Examples

FIG. 3 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationof the active display within the available display area comprising afirst portion of a display screen device in accordance with someembodiments. Multifunction device 300 includes an active display 305. Afirst portion 315 is an available display area 310 and a second portion320 is in a powered-off condition. As shown in FIG. 3, multifunctiondevice 300 is displaying first information in the available display area310 comprising the first portion 315 and a second portion 320 of thedisplay screen in a configuration having a plurality of portions, e.g.,first portion 315 and second portion 320. The first portion 315 of thedisplay screen 305 is configured in a powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input. The second portion 320 isconfigured in a powered-off state. A display main control bar 350 forproviding user input is shown.

FIG. 4 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments. Multifunction device 400 includes a display 405. Anavailable display area 410 includes a first portion 415 and a secondportion 420. Note that a third portion 425 remains in a powered-offcondition.

To achieve a transition from the state represented in FIG. 3 to thestate represented in FIG. 4, multifunction device 400, responsive to auser indication, for instance movement of control bar 350, in the firstportion 315, adds the second portion 320 to the available display area310 by transitioning the second portion 320 to the powered-on state toperform display functions and receive user input, and displays secondinformation in the second portion 320 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Userinput can be provided by various types of user input (e.g., inputsuitable for touch-sensitive displays, such as tapping below the displaycontrol bar or by a dragging gesture while touching the location ofdisplay screen control bar 450), either to provide user input to expandthe available display area 410 by transitioning the third portion 425 tothe powered-on state to perform display functions and receive user inputor to provide user input to contract the available display area 410 bytransitioning the second portion 420 to the powered-off state.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationin an available display area comprising a first portion of a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device500 includes a display 505. A first portion 515 is an available displayarea 510 and a second portion 520 is in a powered-off condition. Asshown in FIG. 5, multifunction device 500 is displaying firstinformation in the available display area 510 comprising the firstportion 515 of the display screen in a configuration having a pluralityof portions, e.g., first portion 515 and second portion 520. The firstportion 515 of the display screen 505 is configured in a powered-onstate to perform display functions and receive user input. The secondportion 520 is configured in a powered-off state. A display control bar550 for providing user input is shown.

To achieve a transition from the state represented in FIG. 4 to thestate represented in FIG. 5, multifunction device 500, responsive to auser indication, for instance movement of control bar 550, in the secondportion 520, transitions the second portion 520 to the powered-off stateto perform display functions. User input can be provided (e.g., inputsuitable for touch-sensitive displays, such as by tapping below thedisplay control bar or by a dragging gesture while touching the locationof display control bar 550) to provide user input to expand theavailable display area 510 by transitioning the second portion 520 tothe powered-on state to perform display functions and receive userinput.

FIG. 6 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments. Multifunction device 600 includes a display 605. Anavailable display area 610 includes a first portion 615 and a secondportion 620.

To achieve a transition from the state represented in FIG. 5 to thestate represented in FIG. 6, multifunction device 600, responsive to auser indication, for instance movement of control bar 650, in the in thefirst portion 615, adds the second portion 620 to the available displayarea 610 by transitioning the second portion 415 to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displays secondinformation in the second portion 620. User input can be provided, e.g.,by tapping below the display control bar or by a dragging gesture whiletouching the location of display control bar 650, to provide user inputto contract the available display area 610 by transitioning the secondportion 620 to the powered-off state.

FIG. 7 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationin an available display area comprising a first portion of a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device700 includes a display 705. A first portion 715 is an available displayarea 710 and a second portion 720 is in a powered-off condition. Asshown in FIG. 7, multifunction device 700 is displaying firstinformation in the available display area 710 comprising the firstportion 715 of the display screen in a configuration having a pluralityof portions, e.g., first portion 715 and second portion 720.

The first portion 715 of the display screen 705 is configured in apowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input.The second portion 720 is configured in a powered-off state. A displaycontrol bar 750 for providing user input is shown. Selected interfaceelements 725 are shown, as well as a scaled element 730. Selectedinterface elements 725 are, in some embodiments, a subset of elements ofincluded in a graphical content data structure comprising content fordisplay in the available display area 710, and embodiments select theselected interface elements 725 of the graphical content data structurefor display in the available display area 710 based at least in part onwhether the second portion 720 is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, a size of scaled element 730 is determined byscaling elements of the graphical content data structure for display inthe available display area based at least in part on a dimension of theavailable display area. In some embodiments, a size of scaled element730 is determined by scaling elements of the graphical content datastructure for display in the available display area based at least inpart on whether the second portion is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, positions of selected elements 825 are determinedby adjusting a position relative to a background element of a foregroundcontent element of the graphical content data structure for display inthe available display area based at least in part on whether the secondportion is in a powered-on state. In some embodiments, selectedinterface elements 725 of the graphical content data structure may beselected for display in the available display area 710 based at least inpart on a dimension of the available display area.

FIG. 8 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments. Multifunction device 800 includes a display 805. A firstportion 815 and a second portion 820 are an available display area 810,and a third portion 830 is in a powered-off condition. As shown in FIG.8, multifunction device 800 is displaying first information in theavailable display area 810 comprising the first portion 815 of thedisplay screen in a configuration having a plurality of portions, e.g.,first portion 815 and second portion 820.

The first portion 815 and the second portion 820 of the display screen805 are configured in a powered-on state to perform display functionsand receive user input. The third portion 830 is configured in apowered-off state. A display control bar 850 for providing user input isshown. Selected interface elements 825 are shown, as well as a scaledelement 830. Selected interface elements 825 are, in some embodiments, asubset of elements of included in a graphical content data structurecomprising content for display in the available display area 810, andembodiments select the selected interface elements 825 of the graphicalcontent data structure for display in the available display area 810based at least in part on whether the second portion 820 is in apowered-on state.

In some embodiments, a size of scaled element 830 is determined byscaling elements of the graphical content data structure for display inthe available display area based at least in part on a dimension of theavailable display area. In some embodiments, a size of scaled element830 is determined by scaling elements of the graphical content datastructure for display in the available display area based at least inpart on whether the second portion is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, positions of selected elements 825 are determinedby adjusting a position relative to a background element of a foregroundcontent element of the graphical content data structure for display inthe available display area based at least in part on whether the secondportion is in a powered-on state. In some embodiments, selectedinterface elements 825 of the graphical content data structure may beselected for display in the available display area 810 based at least inpart on a dimension of the available display area.

FIG. 9 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying first informationin an available display area comprising a first portion of a displayscreen device in accordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device900 includes a display 905. A first portion 915 is an available displayarea 910 and a second portion 920 is in a powered-off condition. Asshown in FIG. 9, multifunction device 900 is displaying firstinformation in the available display area 910 comprising the firstportion 915 of the display screen in a configuration having a pluralityof portions, e.g., first portion 915 and second portion 920. The firstportion 915 of the display screen 905 is configured in a powered-onstate to perform display functions and receive user input. The secondportion 920 is configured in a powered-off state. A display control bar950 for providing user input is shown.

FIG. 10 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the in the first portion, adding the second portion to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and displayingsecond information in the second portion in accordance with someembodiments. Multifunction device 1000 includes a display 1005. A firstportion 1015 is an available display area 1010 and a second portion 1020is in a powered-off condition. As shown in FIG. 10, multifunction device1000 is displaying first information in the available display area 1010comprising the first portion 1015 of the display screen in aconfiguration having a plurality of portions, e.g., first portion 1015and second portion 1020. The first portion 1015 of the display screen1005 is configured in a powered-on state to perform display functionsand receive user input. The second portion 1020 is configured in apowered-off state. A display control bar 1050 for providing user inputis shown.

FIG. 11 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying firstinformation in an available display area comprising a first portion of adisplay screen device in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 11depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indication in thein the first portion, adding the second portion to the available displayarea by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on state toperform display functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 1100 includes a display 1105. An available displayarea 1110 includes a first portion 1115 and a second portion 1120.

FIG. 12 depicts a portable multifunction displaying first information inan available display area comprising a first portion of a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device 1200includes a display 1205. A first portion 1215 is an available displayarea 1210 and a second portion 1220 is in a powered-off condition. Asshown in FIG. 12, multifunction device 1200 is displaying firstinformation in the available display area 1210 comprising the firstportion 1215 of the display screen in a configuration having a pluralityof portions, e.g., first portion 1215 and second portion 1220. The firstportion 1215 of the display screen 1205 is configured in a powered-onstate to perform display functions and receive user input. The secondportion 1220 is configured in a powered-off state and may be used as agrip.

FIG. 13 illustrates a portable multifunction responsive to a userindication in the in the first portion, adding the second portion to theavailable display area by transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input,and displaying second information in the second portion in accordancewith some embodiments. FIG. 13 depicts a portable multifunctionresponsive to a user indication in the in the first portion, adding thesecond portion to the available display area by transitioning the secondportion to the powered-on state to perform display functions and receiveuser input, and displaying second information in the second portion inaccordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device 1300 includes adisplay 1305. An available display area 1310 includes a first portion1315 and a second portion 1320.

FIG. 14 depicts a portable multifunction displaying a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 14 depicts a portablemultifunction responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, adding the second portion to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 1400 includes a display 1405. An available displayarea 1410 includes a first portion 1415 and a second portion 1420.

FIG. 15 illustrates a portable multifunction displaying a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device 1500includes a display 1505. A first portion 1515 is an available displayarea 1510 and a second portion 1520 is in a powered-off condition. Asshown in FIG. 15, multifunction device 1500 is displaying firstinformation in the available display area 1510 comprising the firstportion 1515 of the display screen in a configuration having a pluralityof portions, e.g., first portion 1515 and second portion 1520. The firstportion 1515 of the display screen 1505 is configured in a powered-onstate to perform display functions and receive user input. The secondportion 1520 is configured in a powered-off state and may be used as agrip.

FIG. 16 depicts a portable multifunction displaying first information inan available display area comprising a first portion of a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 16 depicts a portablemultifunction responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, adding the second portion to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 1600 includes a display 1605. An available displayarea 1610 includes a first portion 1615 and a second portion 1620.

FIG. 17 illustrates a portable multifunction responsive to a userindication in the in the first portion, adding the second portion to theavailable display area by transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input,and displaying second information in the second portion in accordancewith some embodiments. Multifunction device 1700 includes a display1705. A first portion 1715 is an available display area 1710 and asecond portion 1720 is in a powered-off condition. As shown in FIG. 17,multifunction device 1700 is displaying first information in theavailable display area 1710 comprising the first portion 1715 of thedisplay screen in a configuration having a plurality of portions, e.g.,first portion 1715 and second portion 1720. The first portion 1715 ofthe display screen 1705 is configured in a powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input. The second portion 1720 isconfigured in a powered-off state and may be used as a grip.

FIG. 18 depicts a portable multifunction responsive to a user indicationin the first portion, adding the second portion to the available displayarea by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on state toperform display functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 1800 includes a display 1805. A first portion 1815is an available display area 1810 and a second portion 1820 is in apowered-off condition. As shown in FIG. 18, multifunction device 1800 isdisplaying first information in the available display area 1810comprising the first portion 1815 of the display screen in aconfiguration having a plurality of portions, e.g., first portion 1815and second portion 1820. The first portion 1815 of the display screen1805 is configured in a powered-on state to perform display functionsand receive user input. The second portion 1820 is configured in apowered-off state and may be used as a grip.

FIG. 19 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 19 depicts a portablemultifunction responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, adding the second portion to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 1900 includes a display 1905. An available displayarea 1910 includes a first portion 1915 and a second portion 1920.

In FIG. 19, multifunction device 1900 has been rotated 90 degrees andthe displayed features of the application being displayed, along withthe time and signal strength icon have rotated 90 degree in the otherdirection so as to appear upright. In some of the previousillustrations, the icons associated with applications are illustrated asretaining their orientation with the device as the device is rotated. Insome embodiments, the icons may re-orient so as to appear upright whenthe device has been tilted or turned. In some embodiments, theapplication being displayed may or may not reorient so as to appearupright. In embodiments, such functionality may be configurable, forexample via program instructions 4722, state information 2570, 2590 orvia image management module 144, graphics module 132 or the like. Inembodiments, the time and signal strength tool bar may be configured tobe oriented with the device or with the icons or with the application,based on how such elements of the display orient themselves in responseto orientation of the device.

In FIG. 19A, multifunction device 1900 has been rotated 90 degrees andthe displayed features of the application being displayed have rotated90 degree in the other direction so as to appear upright. In FIG. 19A,the indicator display 1935 (e.g., illustrating time and signal strengthindicators) has not rotated 90 degree in the other direction so as toappear upright. In embodiments, the indicator display may rotate withthe display. In some embodiments, the indicator display may rotate withthe displayed features of the application, for example. In embodiments,the indicator display may remain displayed while in a display portionthat is otherwise powered-off or may be reconfigured by one or morecomponents of the device to be displayed entirely within the power-onportion, without any reduced functionality, for example. For example,the indicator display crosses from a first portion (e.g., first portion1915) to a second portion (e.g., second portion 1920) in FIG. 19. If thedevice 1900 changed mode or state such that the second portion of thedisplay was placed into a powered-off mode, the indicator display mayeither remain displayed as it is, or may be reconfigured to only appearin the first portion, albeit continuing to display the same or similarindicators such that the portion of the indicator display 1935illustrated in the second portion 1920 would appear in the first portion1915.

In some of the illustrations, the icons associated with applications areillustrated as retaining their orientation with the device as the deviceis rotated. In some embodiments, the icons may re-orient so as to appearupright when the device has been tilted or turned. In some embodiments,the application being displayed may or may not reorient so as to appearupright. In embodiments, such functionality may be configurable, forexample via program instructions 4722, state information 2570, 2590 orvia image management module 144, graphics module 132 or the like. Inembodiments, the time and signal strength tool bar may be configured tobe oriented with the device or with the icons or with the application,based on how such elements of the display orient themselves in responseto orientation of the device.

FIG. 20 depicts a portable multifunction with a display screen device inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 20 depicts a portablemultifunction responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, adding the second portion to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 2000 includes a display 2005. An available displayarea 2010 includes a first portion 2015 and a second portion 2020.

FIG. 21 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 21 depicts a portablemultifunction responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, adding the second portion to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 2100 includes a display 2105. An available displayarea 2110 includes a first portion 2115 and a second portion 2120.

FIG. 22 depicts a portable multifunction with a display screen device inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 22 depicts a portablemultifunction responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, adding the second portion to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 2200 includes a display 2205. An available displayarea 2210 includes a first portion 2215 and a second portion 2220.

FIG. 23 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screendevice in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 23 depicts a portablemultifunction responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, adding the second portion to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input, and displaying secondinformation in the second portion in accordance with some embodiments.Multifunction device 2300 includes a display 2305. An available displayarea 2310 includes a first portion 2315 and a second portion 2320.

FIG. 24 depicts a portable multifunction with a display screen device inaccordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device 2400 includes adisplay 2405. A first portion 2415 is an available display area 2410 anda second portion 2420 is in a powered-off condition. As shown in FIG.24, multifunction device 2400 is displaying first information in theavailable display area 2410 comprising the first portion 2415 of thedisplay screen in a configuration having a plurality of portions, e.g.,first portion 2415 and second portion 2420. The first portion 2415 ofthe display screen 2405 is configured in a powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input. The second portion 2420 isconfigured in a powered-off state and may be used as a grip.

Screen Power Management Module

FIG. 25 illustrates a display power management module for managingdisplay power consumption, according to some embodiments. Screen powermanagement module 2500 includes a configuration module 2510, autilization determination module 2520, an element management module2530, and a scale management module 2540. Screen power management module2500 receives as input system events 2550 and user stimulus 2560, storesexisting state information 2570 and screen portion transition conditions2580, and generates as output new state information 2590.

In some embodiments, configuration module 2510 allocates display screenspace to a first portion of the display screen, which is configured in apowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input,and a second portion of the display screen, which is configured in apowered-off state. In such a state, a graphics module, such as graphicsmodule 132 of FIG. 1, performs displaying first information in anavailable display area comprising a first portion of a display screen ina configuration having a plurality of portions, as described above.Responsive to a user indication in the in the first portion, which isreceived by screen power management module as a user stimulus 2560,utilization determination module 2520 may perform adding the secondportion to the available display area by, in conjunction withconfiguration module 2510, transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input.Configuration module 2510 may reverse the configuration of the display,and a portion of the display screen may be removed from the powered-onstate to the powered off state in response to user input. Likewise, theactions described herein as being performed in response to user inputmay, in some embodiments, be performed in response to system events 2550such as the passage of an amount of time or a signal from an applicationor system module, or other system events 2550, such as a power-down orsleep signal.

In embodiments, one or more of the modules of the screen powermanagement module 2500 may configure (e.g., coordinately configure) thecolor of the display. For example, user-defined display color settingsmay be stored as existing state information 2570 and/or elementmanagement module 2530 or configuration module 2510 may instructconfiguration of the display in particular colors. In some embodiments,the color(s) used for the display may be configured based on acorresponding state or mode. For example, a device or display that is ina power-saving mode or in a proportional configuration mode may beconfigured to display in grayscale or in black and white. In someembodiments, the graphics module, display controller or the displaysystem 112 may be configured to perform similar functionality.

In some embodiments, utilization determination module 2520 performsadding the second portion to the available display area by, inconjunction with configuration module 2510, transitioning the secondportion to the powered-on state to perform display functions and receiveuser input in response to system events 2560, such as stimulus providedby an application or a module of the multifunction device.

In either case, a graphics module, such as graphics module 132 of FIG.1, may then perform displaying second information in the second portion.States of the first and second portion are stored in existing stateinformation 2570. New state information 2590 includes instructions to agraphics module, such as graphics module 132 of FIG. 1, for implementingtransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input.

In some embodiments, scale management module 2540 performs generatingthe second information by mathematically upscaling the firstinformation. The second information includes a portion of the firstinformation upscaled for display in both the second portion and thefirst portion. In some such embodiments, a graphics module, such asgraphics module 132 of FIG. 1, performs displaying third information inthe first portion. The third information comprises a portion of thefirst information upscaled for display in both the second portion andthe first portion.

In some embodiments, system events 2550 include graphical content datastructures. Screen power management module 2500 performs receiving agraphical content data structure including content for display in theavailable display area. Element management module 2530 performsselecting elements of the graphical content data structure for displayin the available display area based at least in part on whether thesecond portion is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, system events 2550 include graphical content datastructures. Screen power management module 2500 performs receiving agraphical content data structure including content for display in theavailable display area. Scale management module 2540 performs scalingelements of the graphical content data structure for display in theavailable display area based at least in part on a dimension of theavailable display area.

In some embodiments, system events 2550 include graphical content datastructures. Screen power management module 2500 performs receiving agraphical content data structure including content for display in theavailable display area. Scale management module 2540 performs scalingelements of the graphical content data structure for display in theavailable display area based at least in part on whether the secondportion is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, system events 2550 include graphical content datastructures. Screen power management module 2500 performs receiving agraphical content data structure including content for display in theavailable display area. Element management module 2530 performsadjusting a position relative to a background element of a foregroundcontent element of the graphical content data structure for display inthe available display area based at least in part on whether the secondportion is in a powered-on state.

In some embodiments, system events 2550 include graphical content datastructures. Screen power management module 2500 performs receiving agraphical content data structure including content for display in theavailable display area. Element management module 2530 performsselecting elements of the graphical content data structure for displayin the available display area based at least in part on a dimension ofthe available display area.

In embodiments, the functionality associated with the screen powermodule may be incorporated into the operating system of a device. Inother embodiments, the functionality associated with the screen powermodule may be incorporated into an application that interacts with theoperating system. In some embodiments, the described functionality maybe divided among an application and the operating system. In someembodiments, the power management module 2500 may send instructions todirect the display controller 156, as described herein.

Example Operations

FIG. 26 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments. Firstinformation is displayed in an available display area comprising a firstportion of a display screen in a configuration having a plurality ofportions, including the first portion of the display screen, which isconfigured in a powered-on state to perform display functions andreceive user input, and a second portion of the display screen, which isconfigured in a powered-off state (block 2600). Responsive to a userindication in the in the first portion, the second portion is added tothe available display area by transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input(block 2610). Second information is displayed in the second portion(block 2620).

The process is reversible, and a portion of the display screen may beremoved from the powered-on state to the powered off state in responseto user input. Likewise, the actions described herein as being performedin response to user input may, in some embodiments, be performed inresponse to system events such as the passage of an amount of time or asignal from an application or system module, or other system events,such as a power-down or sleep signal.

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments. Firstinformation is displayed in an available display area comprising a firstportion of a display screen in a configuration having a plurality ofportions, including the first portion of the display screen, which isconfigured in a powered-on state to perform display functions andreceive user input, and a second portion of the display screen, which isconfigured in a powered-off state (block 2700). Responsive to a userindication in the in the first portion, the second portion is added tothe available display area by transitioning the second portion to thepowered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input(block 2710). Second information is generated by mathematicallyupscaling the first information. The second information includes aportion of the first information upscaled for display in both the secondportion and the first portion (block 2720). The second information isdisplayed in the second portion (block 2730). Third information isdisplayed in the first portion. The third information comprises aportion of the first information upscaled for display in both the secondportion and the first portion (block 2740).

FIG. 28 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments. Agraphical content data structure including content for display in theavailable display area is received (block 2800). Elements of thegraphical content data structure are selected for display in theavailable display area based at least in part on whether the secondportion is in a powered-on state (block 2810). First information isdisplayed in an available display area comprising a first portion of adisplay screen in a configuration having a plurality of portions,including the first portion of the display screen, which is configuredin a powered-on state to perform display functions and receive userinput, and a second portion of the display screen, which is configuredin a powered-off state (block 2820). Responsive to a user indication inthe in the first portion, the second portion is added to the availabledisplay area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input (block 2830).

FIG. 29 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments. Agraphical content data structure comprising content for display in theavailable display area is received (block 2900). Elements of thegraphical content data structure are scaled for display in the availabledisplay area based at least in part on a dimension of the availabledisplay area (block 2910). First information is displayed in anavailable display area comprising a first portion of a display screen ina configuration having a plurality of portions, including the firstportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and a secondportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-offstate (block 2920). Responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, the second portion is added to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input (block 2930).

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments. Agraphical content data structure comprising content for display in theavailable display area is received (block 3000). Elements of thegraphical content data structure are scaled for display in the availabledisplay area based at least in part on whether the second portion is ina powered-on state (block 3010). First information is displayed in anavailable display area comprising a first portion of a display screen ina configuration having a plurality of portions, including the firstportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and a secondportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-offstate (block 3020). Responsive to a user indication in the firstportion, the second portion is added to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input (block 3030).

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments. Agraphical content data structure comprising content for display in theavailable display area is received (block 3100). A position relative toa background element of a foreground content element of the graphicalcontent data structure is adjusted for display in the available displayarea based at least in part on whether the second portion is in apowered-on state (block 3110). First information is displayed in anavailable display area comprising a first portion of a display screen ina configuration having a plurality of portions, including the firstportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and a secondportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-offstate (block 3120). Responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, the second portion is added to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input (block 3130).

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method formanaging display power consumption, according to some embodiments. Agraphical content data structure comprising content for display in theavailable display area is received (block 3200). Elements of thegraphical content data structure are selected for display in theavailable display area based at least in part on a dimension of theavailable display area (block 3210). First information is displayed inan available display area comprising a first portion of a display screenin a configuration having a plurality of portions, including the firstportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-on stateto perform display functions and receive user input, and a secondportion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-offstate (block 3220). Responsive to a user indication in the in the firstportion, the second portion is added to the available display area bytransitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to performdisplay functions and receive user input (block 3230).

FIG. 33 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forunlocking a display and transitioning the display into either a fullconfiguration mode or a proportional configuration mode. Multifunctiondevices may set themselves (e.g., based on a timer that detects no use)or may be set via the user interface into an interface lock state, inembodiments. The device interface may provide a reduced set of featuresand responses to user input while in the interface lock state. Forexample, a device in the interface lock state may provide a limitednumber of graphic(s) via the display and respond to a limited number ofinput commands (e.g., only responding to one or a few types ofparticular input, such as a particular swipe with respect to a displayedobject). In embodiments, the described methods may be performed byvarious modules, such as the modules of a screen power management module2500.

In embodiments, a device may be configured to exhibit multiple displaymodes. For example, when the device (e.g., the display controller or thescreen power management module or the touch-sensitive display system) isin a display mode, at least some portion of the display system may beconfigured to perform display functionality. In another example, whenthe display controller of the device is in another mode, such as a sleepmode, at least some portion or all of the display may be configured withlimited or no functionality. Other modes, exhibiting other types oflimited functionality, alone or in combination are also contemplated.

At block 3310, a screen or device may be set to a user interface lockstate by any predefined manner where the lock state prevents the devicefrom performing a predefined set of actions. For example, either userstimulus 2560 or system events 2550 may cause the device to be set to auser interface lock state and state information indicating the lockstate may be stored as existing state information 2570, in someembodiments. At block 3320, an unlock image may be displayed via thescreen while the screen/device is in the lock state. In someembodiments, the element management module may determine from stateinformation 2570 that the device or screen is in the lock state andprovide an image of an unlock element or object to be displayed to thescreen, by graphics module 132, for example. For example, FIG. 35illustrates a graphic BAR as an unlock image 3550.

At 3330, contact with the device screen (e.g., a touch sensitivedisplay) may be detected. For example, a touch sensitive display of thedevice may determine that a user has touched the screen. At 3340, adetermination may be made whether the contact corresponds to an unlockgesture using the unlock image. For example, a particular type ofcontact may be required to unlock the device from the user interfacelock state, such that other types of contact do not unlock the lockstate. When the contact does not correspond to an unlock gesture usingthe lock image, the method may continue to block 3350, wherein thedevice is maintained in the user-interface lock state.

When the contact does correspond to an unlock gesture using the unlockimage, the method may continue to block 3360 where a determination ismade whether the unlock gesture indicates a proportional configurationmode. For example, in some embodiments, more than one type of contactmay be recognized. Different types of contact may be associated withdifferent instructions of how to transition from the user interface lockstate. In one embodiment, a certain type of swipe using the unlock imagemay indicate an instruction to transition to a full configuration mode3370 and a different type of swipe may indicate an instruction to aproportional configuration mode as indicated at block 3380. FIG. 35, forexample, illustrates that when a swipe to the left corresponds withunlock image 3550, a transition to a configuration mode is instructed(3525) and that when a swipe to the right corresponds with unlock image3550, a transition to another configuration mode is instructed. In someembodiments, the configuration modes to transition to may be full orproportional display configuration modes. The device may transition tothe indicated mode (e.g., proportional configuration mode or fullconfiguration mode) after receiving the instruction to transition, inembodiments.

FIG. 34 illustrates a portable multifunction with a display screen inaccordance with some embodiments. The illustrated multifunction device3400 is illustrated comprising display screen 3405. In the illustratedembodiment, the display 3405 is entirely in a powered-off mode. In thisparticular embodiment, the display 3405 is illustrated in black toindicate that no power is being used to illuminate any portion of thedisplay 3405. Other displays may be other colors when in a powered-offstate.

FIG. 35 illustrates a portion of a portable multifunction with a displayscreen in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, theillustrated multifunction device 3500 of FIG. 35 may be the samemultifunction device as illustrated in FIG. 34, but in a different mode.In other embodiments, the illustrated multifunction device 3500 of FIG.35 may be a different multifunction device than illustrated in FIG. 34.

In the illustrated embodiment, the multifunction device 3500 of FIG. 35is in a powered-off state. In embodiments, a multifunction device maycontinuously (e.g., while in the powered-off state) display any of oneor more graphical indications while in a powered-off state. In theillustrated powered-off state, the multifunction device 3500continuously (e.g., while in the powered-off state) displays the time(e.g., 10:10 A.M.), date (e.g., Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014) and indicationsof notices of emails (e.g., Email icon 3510), SMS, texts (e.g., textmessage icon 3520), messages (e.g., voice message icon 3515), and thelike. Also illustrated in the continuous display are icons for batterypower supply amount, local wireless connectivity, WiFi connectivity andcarrier signal strength. Other graphical indications of other featuresare contemplated as well. For example, the unlock image 3550 of the BARmay be continuously displayed in the powered-off state. In someembodiments, some or all such graphical indications cover a limitedsurface area of the total screen. In some embodiments, such graphicalindications consume a limited amount of battery power. In someembodiments, the limited amount of battery power consumed may be in aratio with the amount of surface area covered. In some embodiments,providing some such information via the continuous display may reducethe wear and tear and chance of mechanical breakdown of use ofmechanical (e.g., on-off) switches used to access such information. Inother embodiments, the continuous display of some such information mayreduce the number of times the device is put into a powered-on statethat uses more battery power than the continuous display powered-offmode described herein.

FIGS. 36-38 illustrate multifunction devices in various configurationsand states. The displays of the devices are illustrated with variousarrangements of the icons, but without the control bar 450 illustratedin FIG. 4, for example. In embodiments (not illustrated) the illustrateddevices and displays of FIGS. 36-38 may include control bar 450, withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 36 illustrates a portable multifunction device 3600 with a displayscreen 3605 in accordance with some embodiments. The illustratedembodiment includes the entire available display area 3610. In theillustrated embodiment, 100% of the display 3605 is active (e.g., in apowered-on state configured to perform display functions and/or receiveuser input). In embodiments, active may indicate display functionalityor user-input functionality although additional or differentfunctionality may be associated with an active display area as well. Insome embodiments, an active display may indicate that the display islimited to a particular functionality such as display functionality onlyor receive input functionality only.

FIG. 37 illustrates a portable multifunction 3700 with a display screen3705 in accordance with some embodiments. In some, but not allembodiments, FIG. 37 illustrates the same multifunction device as inFIG. 36, but in a different configuration mode. In at least oneembodiment, device 3700 illustrates the same device 3600, but in aproportional configuration mode. As illustrated, a first portion 3720 ofdisplay 3705 is all black, indicating that the first portion is in apowered-off state while the second portion(s) 3730 (e.g., the icongraphical elements) are illustrated in a powered-on state. FIG. 37illustrates that the portions of the display that are in a powered-onstate do not need to be contiguous. In embodiments (not illustrated) theportions of the display that are in a powered-off state need not becontiguous.

FIG. 38 illustrates a portable multifunction device 3800 with a displayscreen 3805 in accordance with some embodiments. Multifunction device3800 is illustrated in a configuration with all of the icons groupedtogether in a single area (a first portion 3815) of the display 3805.The second portion 3820 is illustrated in black to indicate that portionis in a powered-off state. In embodiments, the icons in the firstportion may be downsized (e.g., with respect to the icons illustrated inFIG. 36) to fit in a smaller area. In another embodiment, the spacebetween icons may be removed to fit the icons into a smaller portion ofthe screen. The unused portion of the screen may be directed, instructedor configured into a powered-off state in some configurations.

FIG. 39 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method fortransitioning a display from a full configuration mode to a proportionalconfiguration mode. The methods described in FIG. 39 may be performed bymodules of the screen power management module 3500, singly or incombination.

An entire (e.g., the entire available display screen) display screen mayfunction in a full configuration mode where all of the display screen isin a power-on state, as at block 3900. For example, the screen powermanagement module 2500 may direct the configuration of the screenaccording to data in existing state information module 2570 that maystore the particular configuration mode and the state of the display.

Instructions may be received to transition from the full configurationmode to a proportional configuration mode that configures a portion ofthe display screen in a powered-on state and another portion of thedisplay screen in a powered-off state as at block 3910. For example,screen transition portion transition conditions module 2580 may listenfor particular system events 2550 or indications of user stimulus 2560that match the transition conditions for the particular configurationmode. In some embodiments, system events may include the battery powerlevel reaching a predetermined level or amount (e.g., 35%) or the userinterface receiving an indication of user stimulus indicating aparticular mode and sending the instructions for the particular mode tothe screen power management module 2500.

Responsive to receiving the instruction(s) to transition from the fullconfiguration mode to a proportional configuration mode, a portion ofthe display or screen remains powered-on while the other portion of thedisplay is directed to power-off. For example, the utilizationdetermination module 2520 may be configured to work in concert with theconfiguration module 2510 to transition the display from fullconfiguration mode to proportional configuration mode. In someembodiments, the modules of the screen power management module 2500 sendinstructions to the graphics module 132, instructing the graphics moduleto power a portion of the display and to not power the other portion ofthe display. In embodiments, the process is reversible to put the deviceback into the full configuration mode where the entire screen is in thepowered-on state.

FIGS. 40-42 illustrate a battery level feature that may be used tocontrol the transition into and out of the proportional configurationmode, in embodiments. FIG. 40 illustrates a portable multifunction witha display screen in accordance with some embodiments. Although the blackand white drawings of this application limit the illustration, it isintended that the icon elements of FIG. 40 are displayed in variouscolors and that the background behind the icons of the variousapplications could be of any color as well. This is in contrast to thedevice illustrated in FIG. 41, where it is intended that the display ofthe device be configured such that the black portion illustrated is in apowered-off state and the portions of the icons that appear white in theFIG. 41 could be of any color, such as the illustrated white, grayscaleor any other color while in the powered-on state as illustrated.

FIG. 40 illustrates a portable multifunction device 4000 with a display4005 and a control bar 4050, in accordance with some embodiments. Insome embodiments, the display 4005 is in color, while in otherembodiments, the display may be in grayscale or black and white. In theillustrated embodiment, the available display area 4010 is at 100% ofthe display 4005, in accordance with the device being configured in thefull configuration mode. In the illustrated embodiment, the control bar4050 is included on the display in the full configuration mode. In someembodiments, the control bar 4050 may not be displayed when the displayis in the full configuration mode. In other embodiments, the control bar4050 may be displayed while the display is in the full configurationmode, as a graphic that may be interacted with via the user interface toinstruct the device to transition to the proportional configurationmode, for example.

A battery level auto shift value 4025 is illustrated in FIG. 40. Inembodiments, the battery level may be a condition upon which theconfiguration may be changed from the proportional mode to the full modeor from the full mode to the configuration mode. For example, the devicemay be configured such that the display transitions from the fullconfiguration mode to the proportional configuration mode when thebattery level auto shift value reaches or reaches a point below acertain value (e.g., 35%).

FIG. 41 illustrates a portable multifunction device 4100 with a displayscreen 4105 and a battery level auto shift value 4125, in accordancewith some embodiments. FIG. 41 illustrates that when the battery levelauto shift value 4125 achieves a level less than a predefined level(e.g., 35%) the display may be put into a proportional configurationmode, such as those described herein. The proportional configurationmode that is illustrated (34% is less than the example 35% predefinedlevel, so the device has been configured into a proportionalconfiguration mode) configures the display with the black portions ofthe display in a powered-off state and the white portions of the displayin a powered-on state. White is used to illustrate the portions of thescreen that are in a powered-on state in the illustrated embodiment dueto the nature of black and white drawings. However, the portionsillustrated in white as being in a powered-on state may be displayed inany color or grayscale, in embodiments, while the portion illustrated inblack remains in a powered-off state. The color of the portion(s) of thedisplay in the powered-off state may be other colors in otherembodiments, due to the particular underlying display technology, forexample.

FIG. 42 illustrates a portable multifunction device 4200 with a displayscreen 4205 and battery level auto shift value, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 42 illustrates a device configured in a proportionalconfiguration mode, due to the battery level auto shift value 4225reaching a threshold (e.g., a threshold of 20%). In this illustratedembodiment, the available display area 4210 includes the first portion4215 of the display 4205 that remains in a powered-on state while thesecond portion 4220 of the display 4205 has been directed into apowered-off state.

FIGS. 43-45 illustrate that a portion of the display that is in apowered-on state may be anywhere in the display. In some embodiments,the placement of or the amount of area allocated to elements of the userinterface may be moved without losing any functionality or access to theapplications. For example, a portion of the display that is associatedwith the menu of icons and the control bar 4350 (e.g., the secondportion 4320 of FIG. 43) may be moved anywhere on the display.

FIG. 43 illustrates a portable multifunction device 4300 with a displayscreen 4305 and an available display area 4310, in accordance with someembodiments. In FIG. 43, three portions of the display are illustrated.The first portion 4315 and the third portion 4335 are illustrated as ina powered-off state and the second portion 4320 is illustrated as beingin a powered-on state in accordance with the device being in aproportional configuration mode. The second portion is illustrated asbeing in the middle of the display 4305, between the first portion 4315and the third portion 4335.

FIG. 44 illustrates a portable multifunction device 4400 with a displayscreen 4405 and available display area 4410, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 44 illustrates that the same icon group illustrated inFIG. 43 may be moved to the bottom of the display 4405, such that thefirst portion 4415 of the display 4405 is in a powered-off state and thesecond portion of the display 4405 is in a powered-on state.

FIG. 45 illustrates a portable multifunction device 4505 with a displayscreen 4505 and available display area 4510, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 44 illustrates that the same icon group illustrated inFIG. 43 may be moved to the top of the display 4505, such that the firstportion 4415 of the display 4405 within the available display area 4510is in a powered-on state and the second portion 4502 of the display 4405is in a powered-off state.

The portion of the display that is in the powered-on state may be movedwithin the display via various methods, such as by dragging viainteraction with the user interface (e.g., touch-sensitive surface) orby user configurable settings for example.

FIG. 46 illustrates a portable multifunction device 4600 with a displayscreen 4605 and an available display area 4610, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 46 illustrates that the icon group illustrated in FIG.45 may include more icons or other graphic elements than thoseillustrated in FIG. 45. In some embodiments, the graphic object on thedisplay screen may include hidden elements in addition to the elementsthat are currently visible via the display. For example, the first fullicon visible on the left of the first portion 4615 of the display 4605is an icon for a radio. In the first portion 4515 of FIG. 45, the radioicon was the last icon on the left. In FIG. 46, the user has interactedwith the graphical elements of the screen to make the icons scroll suchthat hidden icons become visible/available and available/visible iconsare hidden. This and other types of graphical elements may providefunctionality that reduces the amount of area of the display that ispowered-on without losing functionality or access to applications.

Example Computer System

FIG. 47 illustrates computer system 4700 that is configured to executeany or all of the embodiments described above. In different embodiments,computer system 4700 may be any of various types of devices, including,but not limited to, a computer embedded in a vehicle, a computerembedded in an appliance, a personal computer system, desktop computer,laptop, notebook, tablet, slate, or netbook computer, mainframe computersystem, handheld computer, workstation, network computer, a camera, aset top box, a mobile device, a consumer device, video game console,handheld video game device, application server, storage device, atelevision, a video recording device, a peripheral device such as aswitch, modem, router, or in general any type of computing or electronicdevice.

Various embodiments of a system and method for negotiating control of ashared audio or visual resource, as described herein, may be executed onone or more computer systems 4700, which may interact with various otherdevices. Note that any component, action, or functionality describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1-5 may be implemented on one or morecomputers configured as computer system 4700 of FIG. 47, according tovarious embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, computer system 4700includes one or more processors 4710 coupled to a system memory 4720 viaan input/output (I/O) interface 4730. Computer system 4700 furtherincludes a network interface 4740 coupled to I/O interface 4730, and oneor more input/output devices 4750, such as cursor control device 4760,keyboard 4770, and display(s) 4780. In some cases, it is contemplatedthat embodiments may be implemented using a single instance of computersystem 4700, while in other embodiments multiple such systems, ormultiple nodes making up computer system 4700, may be configured to hostdifferent portions or instances of embodiments. For example, in oneembodiment some elements may be implemented via one or more nodes ofcomputer system 4700 that are distinct from those nodes implementingother elements.

In various embodiments, computer system 4700 may be a uniprocessorsystem including one processor 4710, or a multiprocessor systemincluding several processors 4710 (e.g., two, four, eight, or anothersuitable number). Processors 4710 may be any suitable processor capableof executing instructions. For example, in various embodimentsprocessors 4710 may be general-purpose or embedded processorsimplementing any of a variety of instruction set architectures (ISAs),such as the x86, PowerPC, SPARC, or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitableISA. In multiprocessor systems, each of processors 4710 may commonly,but not necessarily, implement the same ISA.

System memory 4720 may be configured to store program instructions 4722and/or existing state information and ownership transition conditiondata 4732 accessible by processor 4710. In various embodiments, systemmemory 4720 may be implemented using any suitable memory technology,such as static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM(SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or any other type of memory. Inthe illustrated embodiment, program instructions 4722 may be configuredto implement a mapping application 4724 incorporating any of thefunctionality described above. Additionally, existing state informationand ownership transition condition data 4732 of memory 4720 may includeany of the information or data structures described above. In someembodiments, program instructions and/or data may be received, sent orstored upon different types of computer-accessible media or on similarmedia separate from system memory 4720 or computer system 4700. Whilecomputer system 4700 is described as implementing the functionality offunctional blocks of previous Figures, any of the functionalitydescribed herein may be implemented via such a computer system.

In one embodiment, I/O interface 4730 may be configured to coordinateI/O traffic between processor 4710, system memory 4720, and anyperipheral devices in the device, including network interface 4740 orother peripheral interfaces, such as input/output devices 4750. In someembodiments, I/O interface 4730 may perform any necessary protocol,timing or other data transformations to convert data signals from onecomponent (e.g., system memory 4720) into a format suitable for use byanother component (e.g., processor 4710). In some embodiments, I/Ointerface 4730 may include support for devices attached through varioustypes of peripheral buses, such as a variant of the Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB)standard, for example. In some embodiments, the function of I/Ointerface 4730 may be split into two or more separate components, suchas a north bridge and a south bridge, for example. Also, in someembodiments some or all of the functionality of I/O interface 4730, suchas an interface to system memory 4720, may be incorporated directly intoprocessor 4710.

Network interface 4740 may be configured to allow data to be exchangedbetween computer system 4700 and other devices attached to a network4785 (e.g., carrier or agent devices) or between nodes of computersystem 4700. Network 4785 may in various embodiments include one or morenetworks including but not limited to Local Area Networks (LANs) (e.g.,an Ethernet or corporate network), Wide Area Networks (WANs) (e.g., theInternet), wireless data networks, some other electronic data network,or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, network interface4740 may support communication via wired or wireless general datanetworks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example;via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog voice networksor digital fiber communications networks; via storage area networks suchas Fibre Channel SANs, or via any other suitable type of network and/orprotocol.

Input/output devices 4750 may, in some embodiments, include one or moredisplay terminals, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, scanning devices,voice or optical recognition devices, or any other devices suitable forentering or accessing data by one or more computer systems 4700.Multiple input/output devices 4750 may be present in computer system4700 or may be distributed on various nodes of computer system 4700. Insome embodiments, similar input/output devices may be separate fromcomputer system 4700 and may interact with one or more nodes of computersystem 4700 through a wired or wireless connection, such as over networkinterface 4740.

As shown in FIG. 47, memory 4720 may include program instructions 4722,which may be processor-executable to implement any element or actiondescribed above. In one embodiment, the program instructions mayimplement the methods described above, such as the methods illustratedby FIG. 8. In other embodiments, different elements and data may beincluded. Note that data 4732 may include any data or informationdescribed above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system 4700 ismerely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments. In particular, the computer system and devices may includeany combination of hardware or software that can perform the indicatedfunctions, including computers, network devices, Internet appliances,PDAs, wireless phones, pagers, etc. Computer system 4700 may also beconnected to other devices that are not illustrated, or instead mayoperate as a stand-alone system. In addition, the functionality providedby the illustrated components may in some embodiments be combined infewer components or distributed in additional components. Similarly, insome embodiments, the functionality of some of the illustratedcomponents may not be provided and/or other additional functionality maybe available.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that, while various itemsare illustrated as being stored in memory or on storage while beingused, these items or portions of them may be transferred between memoryand other storage devices for purposes of memory management and dataintegrity. Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all of thesoftware components may execute in memory on another device andcommunicate with the illustrated computer system via inter-computercommunication. Some or all of the system components or data structuresmay also be stored (e.g., as instructions or structured data) on acomputer-accessible medium or a portable article to be read by anappropriate drive, various examples of which are described above. Insome embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-accessible mediumseparate from computer system 4700 may be transmitted to computer system4700 via transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as a network and/or a wireless link. Various embodiments mayfurther include receiving, sending or storing instructions and/or dataimplemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon acomputer-accessible medium. Generally speaking, a computer-accessiblemedium may include a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium ormemory medium such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk orDVD/CD-ROM, volatile or non-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR,RDRAM, SRAM, etc.), ROM, etc. In some embodiments, a computer-accessiblemedium may include transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as network and/or a wireless link.

The methods described herein may be implemented in software, hardware,or a combination thereof, in different embodiments. In addition, theorder of the blocks of the methods may be changed, and various elementsmay be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. Variousmodifications and changes may be made as would be obvious to a personskilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The variousembodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative and notlimiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvementsare possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided forcomponents described herein as a single instance. Boundaries betweenvarious components, operations and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specificillustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality areenvisioned and may fall within the scope of claims that follow. Finally,structures and functionality presented as discrete components in theexemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure orcomponent. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of embodiments as defined in theclaims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multifunction device comprising: a displaycomprising a display screen; one or more processors; and a memorycomprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions areexecuted by the one or more processors to implement: a power managementmodule configured to manage a display controller of the multifunctiondevice, wherein to manage the display the power management module isfurther configured to instruct the display controller to function in aproportional configuration mode, wherein the proportional configurationmode configures a portion of the display screen in a powered-on stateand another portion of the display screen in a powered-off state;wherein the proportional configuration mode configures the portion ofthe display screen in the powered-on state and another portion of thedisplay screen in the powered-off state without losing functionality oraccess to applications.
 2. The multifunction device of claim 1, whereinwhen the portion of the display screen is in the powered-on state, theportion of the display screen is configured to perform display functionsand receive user input.
 3. The multifunction device of claim 2, whereinthe powered-on state configures the portion of the display screen tofunction in a grayscale color mode.
 4. The multifunction device of claim3, wherein the powered-off state configures the other portion of the ofthe display screen to not perform display functions and to not receiveuser input.
 5. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the powermanagement module is further configured to instruct the displaycontroller to function in a full display mode, wherein the full displaymode configures all of an available area of the display screen in apowered-on state when the display controller of the device is in thefull display mode.
 6. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein thepower management module is further configured to manage the display ofthe multifunction device when the display is in a powered-off mode, thepower management module configured to direct the display controller todisplay at least one of a time, date and an indication of one or moremessages while the display controller is in the powered-off mode.
 7. Themultifunction device of claim 1, wherein the power management module isfurther configured to direct the display controller to transitionbetween modes based on a configurable battery power threshold, whereinthe power management module is further configured to: determine that abattery power of the multifunction device reaches the configurablebattery power threshold; and subsequent to said determine, instruct thedisplay controller to change from a full configuration mode to theproportional configuration mode.
 8. The multifunction device of claim 7,wherein the configurable battery power threshold is a configurablesetting in a user interface of the multifunction device.
 9. Themultifunction device of claim 1, wherein the display is atouch-sensitive display and wherein the program instructions are furtherexecutable by the one or more processors to implement a user interfacemodule configured to: detect a contact with the touch-sensitive displayat a first predefined location corresponding to an unlock image;continuously move the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display inaccordance with movement of the contact while continuous contact withthe display screen is maintained, wherein the unlock image is agraphical, interactive user-interface object with which a user interactsin order to unlock the device; unlock the multifunction device into theproportional configuration mode when the move of the unlock image on thetouch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from thefirst predefined location to a predefined unlock region on thetouch-sensitive display; and unlock the multifunction device into thefull configuration mode when the move of the unlock image on thetouch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from thefirst predefined location to another predefined unlock region on thetouch-sensitive display.
 10. A method comprising: managing a display ofa multifunction device, wherein managing the display comprises:instructing the device to transition from functioning in a fullconfiguration mode to functioning in a proportional configuration mode,wherein the proportional configuration mode configures a portion of adisplay screen of the device in a powered-on state and another portionof the display screen of the device in a powered-off state; and whereinsaid instructing the device to transition from functioning in the fullconfiguration mode to functioning in the proportional configuration modeis performed by the operating system of the multifunction device. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein instructing the device to function in aproportional configuration mode causes the portion of the display toperform display functions and receive user input.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein instructing the display to function in a configurationmode causes the portion of the display to perform display functions andreceive user input.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprisinginstructing the display screen to function in a full configuration mode,wherein the full configuration mode configures each portion of thedisplay screen in a powered-on state.
 14. A multifunction devicecomprising: a display screen; one or more processors; and a memorycomprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions areexecutable by the one or more processors to implement: a powermanagement module configured to manage a display screen of themultifunction device, wherein to manage the display screen the powermanagement module is further configured to instruct the display screento function in a proportional configuration mode, wherein when themultifunction device is operational to capture an image, theproportional configuration mode configures a portion of the displayscreen in a powered-on state and another portion of the display screenin a powered-off state such that the other portion of the display screenin the powered-off state is unresponsive to touch-based input while themultifunction device captures an image.
 15. The multifunction device ofclaim 14, wherein the powered-on state of the proportional configurationmode configures the portion of the display to perform display functionsand receive user input.
 16. The multifunction device of claim 15,wherein the powered-on state of the proportional configuration modeconfigures the portion of the display to function in a grayscale colormode.
 17. The multifunction device of claim 16, wherein the powered-offstate of the proportional configuration mode configures the otherportion of the of the display screen to not perform display functionsand to not receive user input.
 18. The multifunction device of claim 14,wherein the power management module is further configured to instructthe display screen to function in a full display mode, wherein the fulldisplay mode configures the display in a powered-on state when thedisplay screen of the device is in the display mode.
 19. Themultifunction device of claim 14, wherein the power management module isfurther configured to manage the display screen of the multifunctiondevice when the display screen is in a sleep mode, the power managementmodule configured to direct the display screen to display at least oneof a time, date and an indication of one or more messages while thedisplay screen controller is in the sleep mode.
 20. The multifunctiondevice of claim 14, wherein the power management module is furtherconfigured to direct the display screen to change between modes based ona configurable battery power threshold, wherein the power managementmodule is further configured to: determine that a battery power of themultifunction device has reached the configurable battery powerthreshold; and subsequent to said determine, instruct the display screento shift from full configuration mode to the proportional configurationmode.